(Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images)
Over the next 30 days, I will be previewing all 30 NHL clubs. I will be looking at their available salary cap room, the additions and deletions from the 2008-09 rosters and where I think they will stack up in their division and conference for the 2009-10 season.
Let's get a move on with the Calgary Flames, Northwest Division, and the Western Conference.
The Calgary Flames currently have 23 players under one-way contracts, two goaltenders, seven defensemen and fourteen forwards. The salary cap hit for these 23 players is $55.37 million. This gives the Flames a little bit of wiggle room but don’t look for the Flames to make anymore major moves before the regular season starts.
Significant Additions
Jay Bouwmeester’s rights were acquired in the Leopold trade with Florida before July 1st and then signed a five-year $6.68 million free agent contract. Colin Stuart and Anton Stralman were acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Wayne Primeau.
Keith Seabrook was acquired from the Washington Capitals. Brandon Prust was re-acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes for Jim Vandermeer.
Nigel Dawes was acquired off waivers from the Phoenix Coyotes then signed a restricted free agent contract. Jason Jaffray, Brian McGrattan, Fredrik Sjostrom, Garth Murray, Staffon Kronwall and Riley Armstrong were all acquired via unrestricted free agency.
Significant Deletions
Adrian Aucoin, Todd Bertuzzi, Mike Cammalleri, Andre Roy, Andreas Eriksson, Marcus Nilson, Rhett Warrener and Warren Peters were lost to Unrestricted Free Agency. Jim Vandermeer was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. Jordan Leopold was traded to the Florida Panthers. Wayne Primeau was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Restricted Free Agents still to Sign
None.
Prospects that Impressed in '08/'09
Where to start. Once the injuries started to pile up on the Flames, the fourth line was a revolving door of call-ups from the AHL. All the call-ups that played three games or more had at least one point, while with the big club. Some of the most notable were:
Matt Pelech
This former first round pick, 26th overall in the ’05 draft of the Calgary Flames, Pelech was a late-season call-up after the Flames’ Defense went through a rash of injuries.
During his rookie season, Pelech played in five games and averaged 13 minutes a game. He chipped in with three assists and didn’t look out of place, while being paired with follow call-up John Negrin.
This 6’4” 220lbs defensemen is one of several defensive prospects that will be allowed to develop in the AHL, with Abbottsford for the ‘09/'10 season. A big, strong, stay at home defensive prospect. He has decent skating ability and an overall skill set to play in the show, but has to learn to make better in game decisions.
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